Machine for slicing bread, cake, meat, vegetables, &amp;c.



P. J. COLLINS.

NG BREAD, CAKE, MEAT, VEGETABLES, m.

MACHINE FOR SLIC! APPLlCATlOH FILED MAYZ4,1916.

Patentd Oct. 31, 1916,

3 SHEETS-SHEET lmlnilll'nllIIIimmlllmmflmm liinlllllllllnjiijlm i" Hi 5'M WITNESSES P. J. COLLINS.

MACHINETOR SLICING BREAD, CAKE, MEAT,VEGETABLES, Qc.

wmss.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1916.

Patented 001;. 31, 1916. v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' ATTORNEYS P. J. COLLINS.

MACHINE FOR SLICING BREAD, CAKE, MEAT, VEGETABLES, &c.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1916.

1,203,185. Patented Oct. 31,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PAl N1 PATRICK J". COLLINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JOSEPH V. HORN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR SLICING BREAD, CAKE, MEAT, VEGETABLES, 803.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

Application filed May 24, 1916. Serial No. 99,504.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PATRICK J. COLLINS, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulMachine for Slicing Bread, Cake, Meat, Vegetables, &c., of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention consists of a device for slicing or cutting an article offood, such as bread, cake, meat, vegetables, etc., to which, however,the invention is not limited, the members of the device uniformlyadmitting a knife or blade to be directed step by step to the food,rendering such motion uniform and providing a clean cut for the same,adapting the article of food to be held firmly in place while the knifeis being advanced and operated, adapting the article after slicing orcutting to be removed from the device in a convenient manner, means forholding the knife from the article when not required for use, means forguiding the knife in its vertical motions especially when cuttingthrough the article, and other details are presented as will behereinafter set forth.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing,but the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, as long asthey are included in the scope of the claims.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a slicing machine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 represents a top or plan view there of. Fig. 3represents a plan end View and a partial vertical section thereof. Fig.4 represents a rear elevation, in'the present case taken on the lefthand end of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section of a portionthereof. Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal section of the device. Fig. 7represents a side elevation of a detached portion on an enlarged scale.Fig. 8 represents a vertical section of a portion on line 88 Fig. 7.Fig. 9 represents a perspective view of a pawl employed, and acontrolling mechanism of the same. Fig. 10 represents a side elevationof a latch employed. Fig. 11 represents a side elevation of members ofthe device shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 12 represents a section of a detachedportion on line 1212 Fig. 3. Fig. 13 represents a partial bottom planand partial horizontal section of a detached portion. Fig. 14 representsa view of a portion of Fig. 6 showing the knife in lowered position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings :1 designates the base of the device, and 2designates standards which rise mcvably from the sides of said base andsupport the auxiliary standards 3, the latter and said standards 2 beingseparated in vertical direction forming the vertical passages or runwaysa: for the blade of the knife 5, it being noticed that the standards 3are somewhat resilient whereby they may be separated so as to permit ofthe introduction and removal of the knife.

In order to close said standards 3 and preserve the spaced distances ofsaid passages a there is pivotally connected with the cross bar 6 whichjoins a pair of standards 3 at the top thereof, the latch 7 which isadapted to engage the screw stud 8 on the cross bar 9, which latter.joins the other pair of the standards 3 at the top thereof, thusretaining said cross bars apart their proper distances forming a spaceas a continuity of the passages l, but when the latch is disconnectedfrom said stud 8, said cross bars may be separated allowing the knife tobe placed in the passages 4 for slicing purposes or removed therefromwhen not required for service.

As has been stated, there are guide passages of different widths for theback of the frame of the knife, and for the blade respectively, hencethe latter is moved true in cutting and there is a stop 68 which limitsthe descent of said back and so prevents the blade cutting into theboard and roughening the latter, while the blade cuts through the bread,etc., to full extent to the very surface of the board, but scarcely intosaid surface. The stop 68 is formed by horizontal shoul ders or ledgesat the base of the walls of the passages 4 of the upper standards 8, itbeing evident that on the descent of the knife the back of theknife-frame 14 abuts said shoulders and so stops the cutting edge of theblade of the knife exactly at the proper place at the bottom of theslice of bread, etc., and the surface of the board without cutting intothe latter.

In order to support the knife in elevated position prior to usefl employthe hanger 10 which is somewhat of hook form and connected with the rockshaft 11 mounted on the standards 3, see Figs. 3 and 6, it hav ing ahandle 12 which projects rearwardly therefrom and has connected with itthe spring 13 which is also connected with the adjacent standard 3, itbeing noticed that when the hanger is moved rearwardly by the handle 12,the knife may be placed in the passages 4L and when the hanger is letgoowing tothe spring 13, it returns to its normal position when the backof'the knife carrying frame let may be hung on said hanger in elevatedposition preparatoryto use.

To permit the hanger to move to andfro and cross the passages 4 ineither direction, the standards 3 have therein the slots 15 and 16, seeFig. 6. Then the knife is to be released, it is slightly raised from theposi- 'tion shown in Fig. 3, and the hanger is drawn back wherebytheknifeis free to be lowered to slice or cut the bread, cake, or otherfood or article below the blade thereof, said food or article beingrestedon the food supporting board 17 It will be noticed that thepassages 4 in the upper standard 3 are wider than those in the lowerstandard 2, sothat the back of the knife-carrying frame let will move inthe former passages, said back being'thicker than the blade of the knife5 which is thin in its nature,'the latter being movable vertically inthe passages of both standards, hence both the blade and the back framethereof are guided in their motions and the blade is steadied andadapted to move true especially while slicing or cutting the food, theblade then occupying the narrow pas sages of the lower standards 2.

The board or bed 17 is the support of the food while being cut, it beingmade preferably of wood, so that when the knife blade descends to fullextent it may contact therewith and so not be injured, said bed beingstationarily mounted on the base 1 of the device.

On the under side of the bed is the longitudinally extending rack 18with which of'said boxes being guided on ways 2 f on the outer'sides ofthe base 1.

is a pinion on a shaft parallel with the countershaft 27 of-the pinion19, and this pinion 25 gears with a pinion 26'on said shaft 27 whichlatter is mounted on the plate of the traveler 20, and "has on one endthe ratchet 28 whose teetha're adapted to be engaged by the pawl 29 1pivotally mounted on the lever 30 which is freely mounted on the shaftof the pinion 23.

The lever 30 is deflected at the top forming the hand or finger-engagingmember 31 for conveniently operating said lever and consequently thepawl, ratchet and pinions, whereby as the pinion 19 rotates and itengages the rack 18 and rides thereon, the traveler and connected partsare advanced step by step, placing the knife successively over a freshplace of the food to'be cut or sliced. 'lVhen said knife is lowered itcuts through the food and so slices it in'pie'ces,

one after the other. 7

In'one ofthe side boxes 23 adj'acent'to the lever 30 isthe plate 31 inwhich are openings 32 arranged in circular order and adapted to registerwith similarly disposed openings 33 in said box 23.

3% designates a pin which is adapted-to be passed through either of theopenings 33 or 32 that are in register, so as'to be in the path of thelever 30, see Fig.11, whereby" the throw of said lever maybe regulatedso as to advancethe traveler 2O to such extent and with it the knife soasto cut the food in thicker or thinner slices. T he articlein'thepresent case is a loaf of bread as shown in dotted lines.

The pawl 29 is held in contact 'withthe tooth to which it is advanced bythe action of the lever 30 by the spring 35 which is secured to thelever and bears against the back of the pawl, as mostplainly shown inFig. 7. Bearing against the heel of'said pawl is the dog 36 which isconnected-pivotally with the box 23 as at 37, said dog having in it theobliquely extending slot 38 which receives the pin or stud 39 on the'slidable bar 40 which is guided in ways on the box 23. Connected withthe pawl 29 by the stud ll there is the spring 42 whichis connected alsowith said box 23' as at In the box '23 is the spring pressed pin orplunger which is passed through the segmental slot 45 in the side wallof said box and provided on its inner end with the head 46which at acertain time is'adapted to rest against the side face of the pawl 29,and at another time is adapted to spring into the recess 47 in saidface, see'Figs. Sand 9, it being noticed'that when the food has beensliced to full extent thebar. lO is moved inthelpr'esent case to theright, whereby the stud 39 in the oblique slot 38* of the dog 36 drawsdown said dog and forces its nose against the heel of the pawl, thusraising the'tooth or point'portion o'f-the'latter free of theratchet'28. Then therecess4r7inthe pawl is placed in the path ofthe'head 46 of thepin 44: when saidhea'dsprings-into said recess and soholds the'pawl'in inoperative 3 maybe'run back to normal' position, inthe present case, the rightend of the device.

The motions of the traveler in opposite; directions are limitedbythestop members 48 on the terminal members of the ways 22 on the'base1.-- Adjustably secured, to the fingerpiece 31 of the lever is the rod49 which rises therefrom and has onits upper end the'head 50 which whensaid lever is pressed down to advance the pawl 29 is adapted to contactwith the top of the article of food which in the case of a loaf"direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, to permit the ready application of theloaf of bread upon the board, and the subsequent removal of the samewhen sliced.

On'the rear of the plate52 is the verti-f cally movable bar 5% having atthe topthe downwardly extending teeth 55 which are adapted to engagetheterminal portion of the loaf of bread, and hold down the same,

said bar being controlled by the screwed which is secured to the plate53 and passes through the vertically-extending slot 57 in said bar 54;.On the outer end of said screw" is the thumb nut 58 which is adapted totighten against saidbar and hold it in vertically adjusted position.Then the nut is unscrewed, the bar is adapted to rise by the action ofthe sprngs 59 which are connected with 'saidbar and the side members ofthe plate 52, in which case the teeth 55 rise with, said bar 54, and soreleases the top of the loaf of bread of the holding action of saidtoothed bar 55.

' On a side member of the plate 52 is-fitted and guided the springactuated slide 60 which in normal position extends forwardly from saidplate'so as to overlap the side of the terminal portion of the loaf ofbread, and serves to retain said portion true in position during theslicing operation. When the latter is accomplished, said slide may bepushed outwardly, in the'present case, to the left, and so be removedfrom the terminal portion of the leaf of bread, assisting to permit theremoval of the sliced loaf laterally from the board 17. I

"In order to hold the pivotal or swinging plate 52 in fixed uprightposition there is mounted on the same the latch 61 which is adapted toengage the post 62 which rises from the board 17, as plainly shown moreparticularly in Figs. 4 and6.

On one ofthe standards 3 is the vertically-arranged roller 63, whosebearings are on the swinging framefii, the latter being pivotallymounted on theears 65 on the-sides of the standards 3, and engaged bythe springs 66 so that said roller 63 is pressed and held inwardly, asshown'inFigs. 2 and 3, so as to be normally in the path of the sideoofthe loafof bread, but when the latter is to be placed in the position onthe board 17 ,said roller is moved into the recess or slot '67 in thestandard 3, so the loaf of bread may beproperly placed on the board 17between the opposite standards .3, preparatory to slicing, and then saidroller pressesagainst said side of the loaf of bread as the standardsareadvanced by the carriage, said roller then riding on said side of theloaf and holding the loaf pressed against the opposite standard and sosteadied while being sliced.

' It is evident that when the loaf of bread is properly placed ontheboard and retained in position in the manner and by the" meansstated, the knife is lowered and cut:

through the loaf forming the first slice thereof. Then the knife israised, and the: ,lever operated when the knife is carrieda' distance tomake the next slice. The knife is lowered and so cuts through a freshplace" of the loaf,'making the second slice thereof, and so theoperations are continued throughout the loaf or as long as desired.l/Vhen the slicing is ended, the bar 46 is moved, in

the present case, to the right, whereby the pawl 29 is raised as hasbeen stated, and the ratchet 28 released therefrom, and so the carriagemay be run backto its first position.

The bar 54.: is released whereby its teeth 55 rise from the loaf ofbread, after which the latch 61 may be removed from the post 62, and theplate 53 swung outwardly and the slide 60 pushed back, so that thesliced loaf of bread may be conveniently removed from the board 17, itbeing noticed that theslices are uniform and clean cut from top to bottom. Y Havingthus described my invention what Iclalm as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a slicing machine, a stationary base, a traveler mounted thereon,means for guiding a knife to said base, means for sustaining the frameof the knife to hold the latter inoperative and means for operating saidsustaining means to remove it from said frame and permit the knife to beoperative.

2. In a slicing machine, a stationary base, a traveler mounted thereon,means on said traveler having vertical passages of different widths forguiding a vertically movable knife to said base through the articles tobe sliced, and a knife having a back thicker than its blade sages. 3. Ina slicing machine,a stationary base,

and occupying the wider pasatraveler mounted thereommeans; on said ravelr h g r al pas ages f. d ffer n widths-for guiding a vertically movableknifeto said base through the articles to be sliced, a knife having aback thicker-than its blade and occupying the wider passages.

d. In a slicing machine, a base, a traveler, standards thereon havingtherein vertical passages for guiding a' knife to said base, a hanger.on said standards adapted to sus tain theframe of said knife and holdthe latter inoperative, and means for ope *ating said hanger to removeit from said frame and permit the knife to be operative.

5. In a slicingmachine, a base, a traveler mounted thereon, gearing-onsaid base and traveler, shafts for said gearing, a ratchet. on one oftheshafts of said gearing, a lever mounted freely on said shaft, apawlonsaid lever adapted to engage. said ratchet, means for retaining saidpawl in engagement with said ratchet, and meansfor throwing off saidpawl f oin said ratchet.

6. Ina slicing machine, a base, a traveler mounted'thereon, a lever onsaid traveler,

1 gearing intermediate the latter andsaid lever, and a pawl and ratchetmechanism adapted to impart intermittent motion; to said traveler, adogon said traveler adapted to engage the. heel of said pawl, a slicingmember on the-traveler, and means on said member and dog whereby saiddog is adapted to disengage said pawl from; said ratchet. v

7. In a slicing machine, a base, atraveler mounted thereon, a lever onsaid traveler, pawl and ratchet mechanism, gearing intern mediate of'theratchet andsaid base, and a plunger onsaid traveler, said pawl havingtherein arecess into which the head of said plunger may be'sprung torender said pawl operative on said ratchet and from which it may be,removed to. removesaid pawl from said ratchet'and render the for.- merinoperative to permit the return motion of the traveler.

.8. In a slicing machine, abase, a traveler mounted thereon, a lever onsaid traveler, pawl and ratchet mechanism, gearing'intermediate of theratchet and said base and said traveler having in its side spaced-apartopenings, and a pin adapted to be placed in either of said openings inthe path of said lever. t -limitthe throw of the latter and consequentlythe degree; of the intermittentmotions of the traveler.

9. In a slicing machine, aibase, a traveler Copies of this patent may beobtained-for base for contact with the upper face of the article beingsliced and adapted to exert,

downward pressure; on the same.

11. In a slicing machme,a base on which an article to be sliced-may beplaced, means for guid ng a knife to said base, means for sustaining theframe of the knife tohold it,- inoperative, means for operating saidmeans to permit the knife to be operated, and a stop plate at the end ofsaid base where the slicing ceases. 7

' 12. In a slicing machine, a base. onwhich an article to be sliced maybe placed; means for guiding a knife to said base, means for sustainingthe frameof-theknife to hold it inoperative, means for operating; saidmeans ,to, permit the knife to. be operated, a stop plate atthe end ofsaid base where the sl-icingceases, and means on the side, of

said plate to engage the side of the adjacent:

portion of said article. V i

13. in a slicing machine, a base on which an article to be sliced may beplaced, a stop plate on the end of said base wherethe slieing of saidarticle ceases, and a longitudinally acting slide on the-side of saidplate adapted to. overlap the side ofthe adjacent portion ofsaidarticle. V

14. In a slicing machine, a stationary base, atravelermounted thereon,meansfor ad; vancing said traveler and means arranged to press againstthe side of a loafofbread and to steady, the samewhile being; sliced,-said pressing means embodying a roller-like member and spring-engagedhearings for the axis thereof, the standard ofsaid traveler having aslot through which said rollerlike member is movable.

PATRICK J. COLLINS."

l iTitmessesz JOHN A. VVmnnnsrrmM, N. BUssI GnR.

five cents each, lay-addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

